How to Meditate – for lazy people
Posted by Goddess Leonie on May 4th, 2009. Filed under: Sacred Goddess.
My sweet friend Kaylia. Photo by moi.
Hola gorgeous Goddesses,
The inspiration for today’s post comes from two things:
meditating
and not meditating.
Ironic, I know.
How it happened..
This morning, I was curled up on the sun lounge outside with Charlie the Happy Healer Dog sleeping on my legs, doing our own little brand of brand of eyes-closed-enjoying-the-moment-space (otherwise known as meditation). And a little idea popped into my mind: You should let people (and yourself) know that meditation doesn’t have to be annoying.
It’s also inspired by the fact that I can go months without meditating. I will think randomly “I should really meditate sometime”, but when it comes down to it, I don’t. And as soon as I do meditate, I think HOLY MOLY I SHOULD REALLY DO THIS MORE OFTEN.
My thing is this – and I suspect I’m not the only one -
I know meditating is good for me, and yet I don’t do it.
So I’ve been working through how I can make meditating more fun for me to do.
So here’s the Goddess Leonie Happy Helpful Guide for Meditation for Lazy People.
Let me preface…
I’m not particularly lazy. In fact, I’m kind of a go-getter. I just don’t get around to meditating often. I know it’s helpful. I know it’s good for me. It’s also annoying some times, boring at other times and another thing on my too-big to do list.
And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one on this.
It’s not that we’re lazy. It’s just that we haven’t found the right way of doing it yet.
Here’s some ways to make meditation less annoying and more like a thing you might want to do.
Get dang comfortable
I started looking at things that annoyed me about meditation – the stuff that held me back from doing it.
And one of the annoying things was this:
I don’t like being uncomfortable.
I don’t think anyone does. And sitting cross-legged in lotus with a straight back and poised mudra fingers doesn’t spell comfortable to me. It spells pins and needles, sore butt and achy back. Maybe when I’m a woo-woo yoga guru master it won’t, but for right now, I’m not and it does.
So for me, it’s an exercise in getting comfy without falling asleep.
What this looks like to me is a comfy armchair inside, sunlounge on the back deck or leaning against a wall outside.
What comfy looks like to you might be totally different.
The lesson here is: meditating isn’t an exercise in feeling uncomfortable. It’s a place of rest, stillness and comfort for yourself. Get comfy.
Leonie’s What Works For Me Meditation
I’ve read books upon books on how to meditate. I have gone to so many meditation retreats and classes it’s not funny. I know the meditation routines. I know the old staring at a candle flame one. I know the stilling your mind thing. I know the nose-breathing-in-and-out thing. I know about making your own visualisation.
I also know that they feel like work (blerk). They feel like something I have to work at. It feels hard.
So this is my super-simple-and-not-so-secret way of meditating:
I take 100 breaths. I count them. I try not to think about anything else.
Yup. It’s revolutionary.
And it also really works for me. It gives my brain something to do (wee! counting!) while the rest of me is just hanging out, inadvertently meditating.
The lesson here is: There are so many ways you can meditate. Explore them to find a way that’s really really easy for you, and just do that.
The Meditationap
Careful. This one is complex.
Oh yes. It’s the love child of a meditation and a nap.
- Lie down on a bed, couch, sun lounge, or pile your (empty) bath with pillows and blankets.
- Close your eyes and do nothing.
- Maybe you’ll fall asleep. Maybe you’ll have zen inspiration. Maybe you’ll just happily float along. Either way, it will be sublime…
My favourite meditationap consists of a sun lounge, a blanket, an afternoon and my ipod filled with lovely music. If ten day zen master meditation retreats consisted of this kind of meditating, I could totally do them!
Penelope’s alarm clock
If 100 breaths isn’t going to cut it for you, try what my friend Penelope talks about here. She sets a timer for 15 minutes. She meditates until the timer goes off. This way, she doesn’t have to wonder about how long it’s been, or how much longer she should meditate for. It’s like meditation on cruise-drive.
The lesson here is: Make your meditation as cruise-drivey as possible.
Faking it for ten breaths
When I really, really need to meditate, and I don’t feel like I have time, I make a little pact with myself. I say to myself:
Okay, we so don’t have to meditate for any pain-in-the-ass time at all. Let’s just do ten breaths.
And my logic brain says:
Ten breaths? You think I have time for ten breaths of meditation? Are you kidding me! I have stuff to do lady! We’re not on retreat you hippy!
And I say:
Oh. I know you’re really busy. I really feel like I need this. You and me. Besides, it’s only for ten breaths.
Logic brain:
Fine. But only ten. And I’m counting.
And then we do our ten breaths and it’s nice. And we either stop there because we feel like we’ve refreshed just enough, or we keep going for another ten or twenty because it just feels so good.
The lesson here is: Start with ten. Everyone has time for ten breaths. See what happens. It’s a little way of moving around resistances.
Making it a reward
Meditation should be fun and easy and feel good for you. Not excruciatingly boring or painful. Work out the thing about meditation that makes it really, really useful for you. Not a “I should meditate because everyone says so.” Not even an “I should meditate.”
Find a way that makes you think “I want to meditate.”
Here’s the meditation pay-off for me:
Whenever I take 100 breaths, it’s kind of boring for the first 59. But then I hit 60, and for the next ten seconds, it feels like nirvana. I don’t know if it’s a rush of oxygen to the head, or just because I finally relax then, but whatever it is, 60 is good. And it makes those 59 seconds before it so very, very worth it.
My little reward is my 60-second mind orgasm. Maybe I should call it as masm. 
The lesson is: Find your personal cookie-treat from meditating. And keep remembering it. Use it as a reward for getting yourself there.
Help from guides
When I need extra help in meditating, I use CDs. They are like my own little personal guides into sweet-calm-space.
Try out different CDs, guides, and meditation techniques and see what works for you. And what works for you – make that the golden wisdom in your life. You are the best expert on you.
Here’s some different resources you can try out:
* My Divine Dreaming Meditation Kit. You don’t have to use this meditation to get to sleep – you can use it for 21 minutes of pure, rested bliss. Amen to that!
* Holosync. For years I saw their ads about meditating deeper than a zen monk. I thought it was ridiculously untrue and kind of stupid marketing. And then I actually tried their meditations. Yes, they are expensive. And yes, they really do work. When I’m really frazzled and can’t settle down, I pop on one of their tracks for thirty minutes. Every time, my mind slows down and gets into peaceful-calm-even-blissed out mode. By the end, I feel like I have been in a brain-spa. If you’ve got the dobleros and can ignore the tacky zen-monk marketing stuff, Holosync is incredible.
* Doreen Virtue’s Chakra Clearing Book + CD. I can always recommend Doreen’s work. This book and CD is beautiful, easy to use, and the CD meditation is lovely.
The big lesson here is…
The big, big thing I want to share with you from the post is this:
The reason you aren’t meditating right now is not because you are lazy. It’s because you haven’t found a way to meditate for you that is fun, easy and comfortable for you yet.
Find the way that does, and it’s much much easier.
Remove the annoying things from meditating. Try out all the different ways, resources and support you can find to make it as lovely an experience for you as possible.
And remember – you are the expert on you. Find the wonderful things that work for you, and ignore the rest.
There are 6 billion paths to bliss, and your path is your own. Make it a happy one.
Big love you,
____
May 4th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
You mean I can be comfortable when I’m meditating? And I can do it for just a short amount of time if I want? And I don’t have to achieve some impossible ‘empty mind’ zen state?
*big sigh of relief*
Thank you!
May 4th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
OMG!! Could this have been any more perfect for where I am right now?!?!?!
Thank you SO much for posting this, girlie ~ It is EXACTLY what I needed to hear!
bobbie’s last blog post..Piglet and Pooh ~
May 4th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
My favorite way to meditate is to sky gaze. I like to lay on my bed and just watch the clouds float by and stare into the big blue. Doing this for ten minutes totally relaxes me.
Shell’s last blog post..Happy May
May 4th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Leonie, now I know why you’re a goddess! This is a really entertaining yet helpful read. One of the most enlightened I’ve read on meditating so far!
Daphne @ Joyful Days’s last blog post..8 Lessons from the Lindy Hop
May 4th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Hi Leonie,
I just discovered you from Tess of The Bold Life and I’m so glad I did. This is a fabulous site, I’m subscribing to everything I can!!
And this is an excellent post on meditation. I’m training to teach Primordial Sound Meditation at the moment because after two years of trying and failing I finally found a method which makes me just want to meditate – which as you point out is key. I agree that with you that there are so many methods out there that there has to be a way that will work for everyone, and also agree that being comfortable is very important.
Hilda’s last blog post..Consciously choose your response
May 4th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
I’m such a big believer in doing what works for you. My meditation technique that works is a chakra meditation before bed every night. laying down. this is a wonderful post!
brandi’s last blog post..mission monday:: laugh
May 4th, 2009 at 10:21 pm
I use the bell from this website (http://www.mindfulnessdc.org/bell/index.html). It has a wonderful sound and I know I don’t have to wonder about the time, but can just sit and relax.
May 5th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
How lovely to find you through a friend…thanks for sharing your Goddess light. I agree 100% with what you said in this post. We DO get to decide for ourselves how best to meditate. For me what works is to meditate with nature. It might be a walking meditation on the beach or leaning into a maple or staring at rainbows over the bay. Nature is the best meditation teacher I know, and we cannot be separate from Her.
You are a beacon. Blessed be.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Awwww…such lovely goddesses…
Thank you for all your comments, beauties!
And yus… it is WAY nice not meditating in uncomfy possies. Who would have thunk it?
@Goddess Oriana ~ So so lovely to connect with you dearheart! And I agree… nature is our best teacher
@Goddess Irene ~ Oh, thank you for that wonderful link dearheart!
@Goddess Brandi ~ I loves the chakra meditations too
@Goddess Hilda ~ You precious woman. I’m so glad you found your way here ~ I’m so glad to meet you. Your primordial sound meditation teachings sound wonderous
@Goddess Daphne ~ Awwww… bless woman! Thank you for being here
@Goddess Shell ~ And how could I forget sky gazing? You just put the cherry on the cupcake, sweetie!
@Goddess Bobbie ~ From one imperfect meditator to another – biiiig cuddles
@Goddess Bec ~ Crazy right? Being comfortable AND meditative? Holy revolutionary batman!
Goddess Leonie’s last blog post..How to Meditate – for lazy people
May 6th, 2009 at 2:39 am
Hey There darling, darling girl,
This is an absolutely FABULOUS post! I am right there with you girlfriend around the whole meditation does not need to be a pain in the ass ( literally!) type of thing. And I dawned on me not too long ago that I actually meditate ALL THE TIME…. but because I wasn’t suffering with it, I didn’t CALL it meditation.
Oh… and another fabulous resource for non-sucky meditation is a book called Meditation Secrets For Women by Camille Maurine.
Love YOU!,
Chris
chris zydel’s last blog post..Creative Miracle Grow: Finding Someone to Believe In… YOU!
May 7th, 2009 at 2:57 am
Hello darling goddess. love this post and love how you reply back to us through a comment on here!
Wanted to say ive been reading back posts of your old blog the turquoise journey – and i LOVEEEEE it!!!! its sooooooooo goooood!!!! i have been reading it for hours!!!!!!! your amazzinnng!! xxxx
May 7th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Thank you soooooooooooooooo much for this.
It couldn’t have come at a better time for me and was EXACTLY what I needed.
Yay for comfy meditation!
May 7th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Yes! This is wonderful and comforting, thank you. I meditate in savasana pose (aka just lying there) because it’s freaking *comfortable* and relaxing. I look forward to it every single day, it’s better than a bubble bath
Eileen’s last blog post..Escape from Cubicle Nation
May 8th, 2009 at 3:16 am
This was so helpful!!
Meditation is awesome, but sitting up hurts my back. Now that I know I can use a different position I am elated!!
May 8th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I can’t agree with you more. I’ve tried to do the 15 minutes timer. I will now do the 100 breaths. I love that idea. I think that will work when I can’t fall asleep at night as well.
The meditations you’re doing. How about one to fall asleep at night? I know there are more midlifers that must need this as well. And probably all other ages!
May 10th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Leonie,
YES. YES. Don’t listen to people when they tell you the ‘right’ way! I so struggle with mediation on a regular basis, being another one who goes, goes, goes. Glad I’m not alone.
When my mind is really racing (esp when I am on the road presenting), I find it helpful to lie on my back and get my legs up on a wall. If I can allow myself to stay put for 20 minutes, its incredibly rejuvenating, allows me to drop into a meditative state and (@Tess) it even works at night when I need to fall asleep. Something about shifting the nervous system by getting the blood out of my limbs and back into the center of my body.
Christine Martell’s last blog post..Two years of blogging
August 13th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
thanks! this has helped soooo much!
but when ever i try to meditate its like “LANA! HAVE YOU DONE YOUR HOMEWORK!” “LANA! FEED THE DOGS!” “LANA! LOOK AFTER YOUR LITTLE SISTER!” “LANA! THE INCENSE YOUR WERE BURNING HAS BEEN KNOCKED OVER AND THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE!”
ok maybe not that last one.
ok that was only once.
(I’m kidding)
and my response is usually
“MUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMM! you ALWAYS do this! are you trying to ruin my life!”
but as you can see, it is very hard to meditate in a house full of mum and dad and andie and her (bazillion) friends who all decide to invite them selves over every night of the week.
But i am trying to get better at it! (Must try harder)
October 17th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Good tips! I’m totally a CD follower. My brain just does not like to shut itself off and/or I get bored, so having someone on a CD guide me is really helpful. I feel my meditations are much more productive when I do them like this.
October 25th, 2009 at 8:14 am
[...] Discover the joys of having a meditationap! [...]
October 25th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
When my cat Cathy was alive, I use to turn on Music Choice on my television cable, to Soundscapes. That music was very relaxing, featuring New Age music. Sunday morning was nap time for me and her. She would curl up tightly against my stomach, and we would sleep for four hours at a time. I miss that very much. I have two new cats I have had since they were kittens, and now they are two and a half years old. Suzie Q sits on my chest for a minute or two, then she runs off.
And I can understand not wanting to deal with the yoga part sometimes. You know the pose where you grab your right ankle and balance on your left leg and raise your left arm over your head? I have a sore something in my knee and when I bend it it hurts. I am taking a prescribed muscle relaxer for it.
If I was in a yoga pose, and I tried that pose and wound up screaming out loud in the pain, “OW OW OW!”, I am afraid I’ll not only disrupt the class, but I am afraid I’ll say something offensive about someone’s mother in Sanskrit.
October 31st, 2009 at 7:50 pm
[...] The Meditationap is your friend. [...]
November 7th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
[...] Take a Meditationap [...]
December 6th, 2009 at 9:20 am
[...] How to Meditate – for Lazy People [...]
December 22nd, 2009 at 1:59 am
[...] How to Meditate – for Lazy People [...]
January 2nd, 2010 at 8:55 pm
[...] How to Meditate – for Lazy People [...]
January 3rd, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Leonie,
after reading this I think I meditate all the time, its just the formal meditation that I have trouble sticking too. Well this takes the pressure off of “I should meditate more” thought… Thanks sweetie.
Kate
January 31st, 2010 at 10:06 am
[...] How to Meditate – for Lazy People [...]
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Thanks
August 11th, 2010 at 11:24 am
thanks